Teams apparently are willing to write off Freeney's disappointing 4.5-sack-at-age-32 season as a byproduct of a season-long ankle injury and a poor fit as an outside linebacker in coach Chuck Pagano's 3-4 scheme.

According to SI.com's Peter King, the Colts' decision not to re-sign Freeney had the NFL "buzzing" over the weekend. In fact, one general manager already interested in Umenyiora told King that Freeney has passed the former Giants' pass-rusher on his free-agent board.

That news shouldn't come as a shocker. Umenyiora is getting long in the tooth himself, and Freeney always has been a superior all-around talent.